Zack Snyder To Direct 'Justice League' Movie After 'Batman Vs. Superman'

While Zack Snyder's Man of Steel sequel Batman vs. Superman is gearing up to begin production next month (with an announced May 6th 2016 release), Warner Bros has revealed their plans for a third film. Warner Bros. president of worldwide production Greg Silverman revealed to Ben Fritz that Zack Snyder will direct Justice League. More details on the Justice League movie, after the jump.

A screenplay is apparently already in development, although no writer has been officially announced. David Goyer's 3-picture deal with the studio supposedly included a Justice League movie. Silverman says that Batman vs. Superman will "lead into" Justice League, showing "a further expansion of this universe."

The movie is expected to reteam Henry Cavill as Superman, Ben Affleck as Batman and Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman. We recently learned that Ray Fisher had been cast as Cyborg in Batman vs. Superman — apparently that half-robotic character will have only a small role in the next film, setting up his larger role in Justice League.

A Justice League movie has been rumored since July 2013. In January another rumor suggested that Batman vs. Superman and a possible Justice League movie would be shot back to back.

Update: While Wall Street Journal reported that it would be either 2018 or 2019 before we see Justice League, Borys Kit confirms the earlier rumor of a back to back shoot which means the movie could hit theaters as early as Summer 2017:

Yes, Zack Snyder will direct Justice League. Yes it will shoot back to back. Likely release date: 2017. Likely announcement: Comic Con.

The Justice League of America has had many incarnations since their first team-up in 1960. The original team consisted of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash (Barry Allen), Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Aquaman (Arthur Curry), and the Martian Manhunter. But other characters have been rotated throughout the years, such as Green Arrow, Captain Atom, Captain Marvel, Black Canary, the Atom, Hawkman, Elongated Man, Red Tornado, Firestorm, Zatanna, Hawkgirl, Cyborg, Vixen and many others. We don't know which heroes will comprise the new movie team, but its expected that Aquaman, Flash and Green Lantern will probably join Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

Warner Bros also confirmed they have several other DC and Vertigo comic book movies in development, but those are unconnected to Justice League. Those films include Shazam, Metal Men, 100 Bullets, and Fables.

Gadot has a three-picture contract which will reportedly pay the actress $300,000 per film, tentatively set to be Batman vs. Superman, a Justice League movie and a Wonder Woman standalone. They aren't yet developing a Wonder Woman movie starring Gal Gadot but Warner Bros president of worldwide marketing Sue Kroll says "That is our hope. With the right script, that could be viable. The world is ready for her."

Some of you might not remember that this is the second time Warner Bros. has tried to make a Justice League movie. In 2007 (predating Iron Man and the Marvel Cinematic Universe) a Justice League movie was in the works with George Miller (Mad Max, Happy Feet) directing based on a script by Kieran and Michele Mulroney (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows). Armie Hammer was cast as Batman, D.J. Cotrona was Superman, Adam Brody was The Flash, and Megan Gale was Wonder Woman. The budget ballooned, and production of the film was shelved while the actors were in Australia prepping for the shoot.